Rottnest Island.Rottnest Island is just 20 kilometres or so offshore from Perth and is where the Perth locals go to swim at some of the best white -sandy beaches, snorkel in turquoise water over coral gardens and shipwrecks, or just kick back and go fishing. 
Willem de Vlamingh, a Dutch explorer, thought that the multitude of Quokkas on Rottnest looked like giant rats when he landed in 1696 and he subsequently he named the island 'Rat's Nest Island’, or in Dutch, ‘Rottenest Island’. The 'e' was eventually dropped and today it is also affectionately called Rotto by local West Australians. Rotto, is a car-free zone, which adds to its relaxed feel and with 63 beautiful beaches to choose from, the island is refreshingly uncrowded. There is a good network of sealed roads on Rottnest Island and the only way to get around, besides the bus tours that go around the island, is by bicycle. This is how Rottnest has maintained its charm. It will take you a full day to comfortably explore the whole island by pushbike, just jump on and pedal, whichever road you take, you will come across some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world. Hiring a bike is definitely the best way to get around and find those secluded beaches and secret surf spots on the other side of the island. There's also a free bus service that allows you to hop on and hop off as you please, as well as guided tours exploring the early colonial buildings, lighthouse and the island’s crucial role in World War I and II.
The General Store, famous Bakery, Quokka Arms pub and a few smaller stores are only a few minutes walk away from the settlement and mini-golf, trampolines, tennis, golf and bowling facilities are also close by. There is no other place on the island to buy food, or anything else, and other than a few scattered water fountains at the main bays, self-sufficiency is important when leaving the settlement. Rottnest Island is called “Wadjemup” meaning "place across the water" by the local Aboriginal people and you can take a journey back in time with the Wadjemup Aboriginal Bus Tour. Discover the island’s fascinating history as a place of great spiritual significance and hear the stories of Aboriginal prisoners once held at the penal colony. The island is 11 kilometres long, and 4.5 kilometres at its widest point with a total land area of 19 km² and it is classified as an A Class Reserve, managed by the Rottnest Island Authority. No private ownership of land is allowed. A well-maintained wildlife preserve, Rottnest is popular with scuba divers (the island and its surrounding reefs are littered with ship wrecks), surfers (there are several notable reef breaks at the west end of the island at Strickland Bay, Salmon Bay and Stark Bay), and recreational fishers. Rottnest boasts many small bays and coves, at the top of every hill or the turn of every corner, another one comes into view. 
Sparkling waters with the most brilliant colours you can imagine and snow-white sandy beaches characterise a bike-ride around Rottnest Island. A popular spot is The Basin, a reef-protected bay a few minutes ride from Thompson Bay which is gorgeous and great for children and Longreach Bay, Little Parakeet Bay, and Geordie Bay which are also popular spots for swimming and lazing on the beach. The surrounding sea is a marine sanctuary that protects a wide variety of fish and other marine creatures and no pets, guns or spear guns are allowed on Rottnest Island. A snorkel trail at Parker Point features underwater interpretative plaques that give information about the very unusual marine environments surrounding Rottnest. The island is the southernmost point along the Western Australian coastline at which coral grows. Rottnest is one of the few areas in the world where the quokka can be found, this is largely due to the exclusion of feral cats and other animals such as foxes from the island. The island became largely devoted to recreational use from the 1900s, aside from a brief period of exclusive military use during World War II. It is now visited by nearly 500,000 visitors per year and most of those visitors arrive on one of the ferries from Fremantle, Perth or Hillarys, which is a northern coastal suburb of Perth, These ferries are operated by Boat Torque/Rottnest Express, Hillarys Fast Ferries and Oceanic Cruises. Rottnest Island Airport for light aircraft (YRTI) is located near the main settlement. 70% of all visitors come for the day only and the majority of visitors come in summer, with nearly 20% of all visitors coming in January. (January is the middle of summer in Australia…). The island has accommodation for up to 2,850 visitors, while day only visitors can number up to 5,000. Accommodation options include 308 villas, units and cottages the majority of which sleep 4, 6 or 8 people and which are self-catering.
Unlike many east coast island destinations, those looking for a superior level of accommodation are not catered for. Other accommodation options include the YHA and group accommodation at Kingstown Barracks; the Quokka Arms hotel and Rottnest Lodge. Demand for accommodation is very high during the summer months, especially during the January and Easter school holidays so if you intend to go you must book early. Rottnest Island has been an important holiday destination for over 50 years, making it an iconic location for generations of Perth residents for family holidays, and as a place to celebrate events such as schoolies week, leavers week in Western Australia, (a perculiar celebration which occurs throughout Australia and signifies the end of secondary school with hundreds or thousands of ex-students participating in a week long beach party). The Rottnest Island Authority is keen to promote the Island as a family-oriented holiday destination and policies are in place to allow everyone to have an enjoyable holiday experience, including a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour. Rottnest is an angler’s paradise, hundreds of boats frequenting the sparkling waters for a variety of reef, sea grass and migratory species. Jewfish and King Wrasse are caught amongst the reefs, Cobblers, (eel tailed catfish) and long-headed Flatheads live in the sea grass and migratory fish like herring, tailor, whiting and skippy can be caught in the open waters or off the beach. 
Before you leave take a trip up to Oliver Hill on the railway that once hauled guns and ammunition for the Army.
The many old holiday homes and chalets still stand and peacocks and pheasants peck around their outsides, adding to the nostalgic charm of Rottnest Island. End your stay watching the sunset over a glass of red at the Quokka Arms pub, boasting one of the best beach-side views in the world. Visit Rottnest Island, you’ll never be the same, Enjoy, John.
Our RSS feed will be updated periodically with all the latest travel deals and special offers. Please subscribe by clicking the button to the left (XML/RSS) to receive notice of these updates without any risk or obligation. PLEASE NOTE: If you don't know what an RSS feed is just click this link. Click here to return from Rottnest Island to The Discount Travel Guide home page. |
The settlement is the centre of life on Rottnest Island, a few stores and buildings all within a very short distance from each other. 
The style of accommodation is basic and is most suitable for catering to young families on a limited budget.